Thermoviewer with a hybrid 256-element photosensor (IR CCD) operating in the IR range uses doped silicon with a 0.05 quantum efficiency and compares well with best modern thermoviewers designed around narrow-bandgap semiconductors. An improved IR CCD with quantum efficiency 0.4 - 0.6 has been designed. From the technological points of view IR CCDs for wavelengths from 8 to 14 micrometers based on doped silicon are quite effective due to the relatively low production cost of silicon devices. The future of such photosensors is discussed in terms of ecological monitoring of ground, airborne and spaceborne purposes.